The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-09-03
ala p cried Mr.. Williams, 'they'rc here,

luCu.
He put his head into the hatch and sang
out, "Below there r Noanswer "Below
there, l say = His voice sank dead into
the gloom, and no reply followed. He
hailed a third time: "Anybody below
there ?" and obtaining no response, lost his
patience, put his legs into the hatch, and
dropped. The light was made by slush
lamp swinging under a blackened beam.
There were four hammocks stretched under
the upper deck, and few hunks going into
the bows. You would have concluded that
the crew had all turned in after eating; for
there was mess-kid upon the deck with
the remains of piece of beef in it; here
and there pannikin stood upon a chest,
and the rowing and perplexed eyes of the
mate fastened upon broken pipe, bits of
sea-bread, stray shoes and boots, oilskins
hanging by nails, and other well-known
items of the furniture of Jacks ocean par
lor. He punched the hammoeks-there
was nothing in them; he examined the
buuks-they too were untenanted.
''This beats all my goin' a-fshin' !" ex-
claimed one of the men.
"Nothin's wanted but favey o sulphur
to make me reckon that the devils got
charge here" said the other.
"Put that light out, one of you" said
the mate, and they returned on deck and
got into their boat.
"Well ?" said the Captain, as Mr.. Viii
liams stepped over the side.
"Well, sill" replied the mate, "I've thor
oughly overhauled her, and there's no one
on board Nothing alive but some cocks
and hens. She's the Ocean Star of Hull, "
and here he acquainted the Captain with
the contents of the ships papers; "aRd she
should be worth as she stands tidy lump
of money. She's sound as bell and as
dry as the inside of chimney"
"And no hint to be found as to what's
become of her people?"
"Ne'er hint, sir, barring those empty
starboard davits I'd believe her crew had
left her in that boat; only what are you to
make Of the galley fire being alight, fowl
cooking In saucepan on it-aotually boil
ing as though for mans dinner-and to
complete the blessed wonder, sir, the fore
castle lamp burning"
"There must be somebody aboard" ex-
claimed the Captain. "Fowls aren't such
fools as to pluck and boil themselves. No,
sir; there's man or men aboard, and you've
missed EN-"
'They may have slipped into the lazar-
ette or down the forepeak," answered the
mate, 81 didn't look, and SO | cant't say.
but as the matches are on, with tarpaulins
over them, I'm willing to bet all that I'm
worth, after searching as I did, that there's
no human being in that bark.
The steamer was schooner rugged with a
top-gallant-yard. The Captain, calling to
one of the men who was known to possess
the best pair of eyes in the ships company,
sent him aloft with binoeplaT glass with
instructions to carefully search Che sea in
every quarter for any appearance Of boat.
By this time small air was blowing out
Of the southeast, with just enough ofweight
in it to deepen the shade of the blue and
to put a little curl upon the windward slopes
of the swell. Here and there the fog banks
had thinned, and they were now all under
way, steering northwest, 50 that if any one
of them concealed boat, she vas bound
TO draw out clear presently, unless the crew
rpwed that they might keep the Vapor about
them-a ridiculous supposition, But al
though the man on the steamers topgal-
lant-yard swept the water with the intent,
moss of shipwrecked soul, he remained
mute. The fact was, there was nothing to
see; and after staying aloft ten minutes,
during which time everybody on deck
stared his hardest, too, he cried out,
"There's nothin' in sight, sir, and came eaam me
down.
swell, it's blazing mystery, certainly, "
exclaimed the Captain of the Guide, "But
you'll find I'm right; there are people loaf
ing somewhere aboard, though why they
shouldn't show themselves let him tell us
who can find out. But let that be as it
will, it won't do to let that fine vessel knock
about here and perhaps go to the bottom
in the next gale Of wind" He sailed the
second officer, man named Matthews, on
to the bridge, "Will ye take charge of
that bark, Mr., Matthews, and carry her to
Rio? 1t isn't far off.
eyes, sir" answered the second mate
promptly.
ssYou shall have three men-can't spare
more; but they'll suffice, considering what
part of the ocean this is, if you keep her
under easy canvas.
"I'll manage" said Mr. Matthews.
"Its q job to, tassel your pocket-hand-
kerchief with dollars, aud the mate reports
big harness cask and two scuttle-butts.
Overhaul her for stores when ye get aboard,
and let me know before we proceed. I"
Gay, ay, sir"
"I expect you'll find a man or two skulk-
ing. There's fowl boiling, and Mr.. Viii
liams had to put the forecastle lamp out,
This is the age of steam engines, and there S
no wItchcraft left, so look for the people
for whom that fowls cooking; they'll
strengthen your crew. Muster the men,
Mr.. Williams and ask for volunteers while
Mr.. Matthews gets his duds together"
This was done; several men offered, and
three likely fellows were chosen. One was
a trimmer, the other sailors. They were
not perfectly happy in their minds, but the
seamaa's love of change, coupled with the
prospect of salyage-money, was too strong
for superstition. In few minutes they
pitched their bags into the boat, the second
mate followed, and couple of the steam
er's men rowed them aboard the bark. Be
fore touching rope they went to work to
search the ship They lifted the matches
and found the hold full of cargo. The
second mate, as fearless a sailor as ever
iockeyed yardarm, crawled about with a
lantern, but uneaFthed nothing mortal.
They searched the forepeak and afterwards
the lazarette, in which they met with
abundance of stores-beef, pork, peas, -four
lime-juice, rum, and the like; then, having
rummaged with the pertinacity Of customs
officers, they went on deck, grimy with
sweat and dirt, and the second mate hailed
the steamer.
"Hilloh p
aPlenty of stores and fresh water, sir. y
@Right.'
aCargo almost flush with the main hatch
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